DADSS Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety is group dedicated to finding widespread ways to stop drunk driving. The group is researching alcohol detection prototypes that will prevent cars from starting while there is an intoxicated driver at the wheel.
The program was launched for start research in 2008. In 2013, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) extended their agreement to further develop and test the breath-based and touch-based prototypes to reduce the size and ensure they meet strict performance standards related to speed, accuracy, precision and reliability.
The group is testing:
- Breath-Based System – This system measures the alcohol level in a driver’s naturally exhaled breath unobtrusively. It will be designed to take instantaneous readings as the driver breathes normally and to accurately and reliably distinguish between the driver’s breath and that of any passengers.
- Touch-Based System – This technology measures blood alcohol levels under the skin’s surface by shining an infrared-light through the fingertip. It can be built into the push-button starter switches found on many new vehicles. The button would include a sensor that can detect a high blood-alcohol level and prevent the car from starting.
As part of the ongoing research, the prototypes will be integrated into vehicles for a series of field tests, to allow engineers to observe driver behavior in natural settings and thoroughly test the systems in real-world scenarios.
The technology will automatically detect when a driver is intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above .08 – the legal limit in all 50 states – and prevent the car from moving. It will be made available as a safety option in new vehicles – like automatic braking, lane departure warning and other advanced driver assist vehicle technologies.
DADSS is supported by a broad coalition of organizations including the automotive industry, MADD, safety and children’s advocates, bipartisan leaders in Congress and government entities, and members of the medical community. It is also supported
Currently, there are Alcohol Interlock devices available that require the driver to blow into a device before the car will start. These devices are often mandated by courts for DUI convictions. 21 U.S. states require the usage of an ignition interlock, a for convicted drunk drivers.
We have also seen technology that stops texting and notifies parents of teen’s alcohol blood levels, called DMS.